Washington, DC

Even though I am a huge fan of public transportation and don't enjoy driving in strange cities, we realized it was much cheaper for me to drive from Baltimore to DC than to take the train. There is plenty of free parking on the National Mall, if you are lucking enough to find an open space. One day, as I searched we got so lost and turned around we drove back and forth to Virginia twice.  Of course, even if you are lost in D.C. there is still tons to see.  If we hadn't gotten lost we probably wouldn't have gone to see the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon.  Anyway, I digress...

On our first day we made a circle of the National Mall, parked and visited the National Archives.  The size and grandeur of the buildings really is astonishing. (yes- I did make Andy pose for this picture). 

 I thought we were just going to see the Declaration, Constitution, etc. but the Archives has so much more.  In addition to the exhibits, they have an entire area set up like an actual research room in the "stacks."  Kids can search through "primary sources" while donning white gloves.  We completely lost track of time, but what a fun way to start our tour of DC.

Next stop- The National Museum of American History.

 

Kristen and I loved the "First Ladies at the Smithsonian." They even have Michelle Obama's dress already.  Days later when Andy was bothering me I told him  if he didn't stop I would take him back to the exhibit and read every information card, including shoes and accessories.  Worked like a charm.

Thank goodness there was an "America at War" display nearby.  Andy got to try his hand at being "Rosie Riveter."  Sorry Andy, don't quit your day job.



If Kristen is this excited to see Dumbo in a museum, I can't imagine what she will be like at Disney World.

The next morning we started at the other end of the mall with a trip to the Supreme Court.  I had scheduled our visit to see oral arguments but I had no idea that it would be one of the Arizona immigration cases.  Once we got inside and realized what was going on we understood why the bottom of the courthouse steps was blanketed  with reporters.  That night I think the kids really understood what being in our nation's capital meant.  What we had observed as tourists that day was on the national network news. 

Just to show what a bad tour guide I am- the first day in D.C. Andy said he wanted to go up in the Washington Monument.  I said, "Sorry, we are going to do the free stuff instead."  Turns out, IT IS free to go up in the Monument.  Plus being the coldest day yet on our trip, wind chill around 16 degrees, we didn't have to wait in line for tickets. 

Waiting at the elevator we saw a very familiar statue of George Washington.  We have seen this statue in so many places on our trip it is becomming a bit like a game of  "I Spy."

The National Christmas Tree the day before the tree lighting ceremony.  I know they want it to look amazing lit up at night, but all the nets of lights make it look tied up and not very attractive during the day.   It is funny Kristen is smiling in this picture.  The whole time we walked over to the White House she was crying she was so cold.  I did mention that wind chill didn't I.